SURAJ NANDREKAR
Panaji: It’s been 8 years since Panaji was selected for the Smart City project by the Narendra Modi Government and funds to the tune of hundreds of crores have been received for infrastructure development in the city.
However, eight years down the line, while Panaji still stinks and floods, the officials seem to have become SMARTER.
On Thursday, the former CEO of IPSCDL Swayandipta Pal Chaudhari was booked for misappropriation of funds of Rs 87 lakhs.
But Goemkarponn investigations now reveal the amount is much more and several others seem to be involved in the case.
A complaint of fraud and misappropriation of funds up to the tune of approximately Rs.39.30 Crores by way of illegal withdrawal from the account of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd., & Amrut Mission has been lodged at Goa Police Economic Offences Cell against then Chief Executive Officer Mr Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri as an authorised signatory even after expiry of fixed term period of his appointment in connivance with then Board of Directors of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development headed by the Chief Secretary Parimal Rai, a criminal act punishable under provisions, Indian Penal code.
The complainant relied upon the documentary evidence obtained under the Right to Information Act 2005 as well as through Legislative Assembly Questions/Answers for confirmation of the said criminal act.
He said that as per Notification under no:10/671/2015-DMA/658 dated: 09/06/2016, issued by the Director of Municipal Administration/Urban Development, Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri was appointed as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the Special Purpose Vehicle created by the state in the name & style Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd.
Thereafter Secretary (Urban Development), Government of Goa vide letter no: GSIDC/Engg/2506 dated:22/07/2016 intimated to the Additional Secretary (Smart Cities) & National Mission Director-Smart Cities, Government of India, New Delhi that the appointment of Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Special Purpose vehicle is fixed for a period of three years.
In an RTI application, it has been replied by the Public Information Officer of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd., that information pertaining to fresh appointment orders/ extension of contracts issued after the expiry of the fixed term period of Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri is not available in the records of the said corporation.
The facts mentioned herein above with documentary evidence confirm that the fixed term period of three years of the appointment of Mr Chaudhuri had expired on 08/06/2019 and thereafter no further order was issued to him.
“Shockingly to an unstarred Legislative Assembly Question no:10 dated 29/01/2021 placed by MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, it has been informed by the Minister for Urban Development that a number of app.Rs.39.30 crores is found to be withdrawn from the bank accounts of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd, and Amrut Mission by Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri as an Authorised signatory for the operation of the said accounts even after the expiry of the fixed term period of his appointment,” the complainant says as per evidence.
Further to another RTI application, has been informed by the Public Information Officer of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd., along with Mr Chaudhuri following members are the signatories. 1) Mrs.R. Menaka (IAS) 2) Mr.Shashank Tripathi (IAS) 3) Dr.Tariq Thomas (IAS) 4) Mr Hemant Kumar (IAS) 5) Mr.Ravi Dhawan (IAS) for withdrawal of said huge amount after expiry of fixed term period of appointment of Mr Chaudhuri as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Imagine Panaji Smart City Panaji Development Ltd.
Please note that the said withdrawn amount from the bank accounts of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd., and Amrut Mission comprises the funds contributed by the State Government and Central Government.
“Prima facie from the documentary evidence annexed herein above it is found that the said amount of app.Rs.39.30 crores (Rupees Thirty-Nine Crores Thirty Lakhs) was illegally/fraudulently withdrawn from the bank account of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd., and Amrut Mission by Mr Chaudhuri as an authorised signatory even after the expiry of his fixed term period of appointment (i.e after 09/06/2019) in connivance with the Board of Directors of headed by the Chief Secretary Parimal Rai & therefore you are requested to register a criminal complaint fraud and misappropriation, cheating, etc. of the Central Government as well as State Government funds against Chaudhuri and then Board of Directors headed by the Chief Secretary Parimal Rai & others under appropriate provisions of Indian Penal Code,” the complainant says.
